Many Bollywood stars who are now well-known personalities in the business quit their day jobs to become actors. One of these actors quit his position with the government to pursue his acting career.
Although he was never given a leading role in the Bollywood industry, this actor shone in the Marathi sector and has earned the title of “comedy king.” He won the audience over with his humorous performance and cemented his spot in their hearts. None other than Ashok Saraf is he.
Who is Ashok Saraf?
Renowned actor Ashoka Saraf, known for his remarkable contributions to both the Marathi and Bollywood industries, was born on June 4, 1947. Hailing from Chikhalwadi in South Mumbai, he attended DGT Vidyalay for his education. Interestingly, he was named after the veteran actor Ashok Kumar.
Despite his keen interest in acting and theatre, Ashok’s father urged him to complete his studies and secure a stable job. He dutifully followed his father’s advice and landed a position as a banker in the State Bank of India. While working in the bank, he pursued acting in parallel. Eventually, after making his debut in Marathi cinema, he bid farewell to his banking career to focus solely on acting.
Ashok Saraf’s acting journey began with the movie Janaki in 1969, and since then, he has graced the screen in more than 250 movies, with 100 of them enjoying commercial success. His comedy films during the 1970s and 80s left an indelible mark on Marathi cinema. Some of his noteworthy movies include Ashi Hi Banava Banavi, Aayatya Gharat Gharoba, Balache Baap Bramhachari, Bhootacha Bhau, and Dhum Dhadaka.
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Not limiting his talent to Marathi cinema, Ashok Saraf also made a mark in Bollywood, giving tough competition to notable comedy actors like Johny Lever, Kader Khan, and Govinda. Although he mostly played supporting roles, he left a lasting impression with his comedic performances in movies like Singham, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Gupt, Koyla, Yes Boss, Joru Ka Gulaam, and Karan Arjun.
Apart from the big screen, he also ventured into Hindi television, starring in highly successful shows like Choti Badi Baatein and Hum Paanch. His comedy show, Don’t Worry Ho Jayega, enjoyed immense popularity during the 1990s.
Ashok Saraf’s personal life
Nivedita Joshi-Saraf, an actress, and the actor are wed. The couple wed in 1990, and they also have a chef son named Aniket Saraf.
